Manager's Welcome
This is the February issue of the Houston-Galveston Area Council's (H-GAC's) Community and Environmental Planning (C&E) E-newsletter. We hope this monthly newsletter will keep you up to date on the wide variety of community planning, economic development and environmental planning programs going on at H-GAC. We want this information to be useful and are very interested in your feedback! If you have any questions about any of our programs, please feel free to contact me at 713-993-4560 or Jeff.Taebel@h-gac.com. To unsubscribe, add another subscriber or offer any comments on the e-newsletter, please e-mail cep_news@h-gac.com. To view the current and past editions of the e-newsletter, please visit:
www.h-gac.com/CEeNewsletter Please click on the links below to view information regarding each topic. IN THIS ISSUE
Battery Recycling Rose 10% in 2005
TPWD Small Community Grant Application
Consumers Willing to Pay More for Recycled Paper
Tidal Marsh Brings Unique Feature to Mason Park
EPA Advances Clean Beaches Plan
New Draft Watershed Handbook Released
2006 AF&P Recycling Awards
H-GAC MEETING NOTICES
H-GAC Natural Resources Advisory Committee
Buffalo/White Oak Bayous TMDL Stakeholders
Parks and Natural Areas Meeting
Storm Debris: Incineration and TSDR Site Location
Environmental Awareness Roundtable: Earth Day
OTHER MEETING NOTICES
Charting the Course to 2015 Galveston Bay Community Open House
T.E.L.E.A. 7th Annual Training Conference
IN THIS ISSUE
Battery Recycling Rose 10% in 2005
The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp. recycled nearly 10 percent more rechargeable batteries in North America over 2004 collection figures. The Atlanta-based group released its 2005 data Jan. 5, reporting that it collected nearly 5 million pounds of rechargeable batteries in North America. The RBRC attributed the 10 percent jump to an increase in participation in its program among national retailers, businesses and communities. More than 30,000 North American locations participate in the program. The RBRC is funded by 300 manufacturers and marketers of portable rechargeable batteries and products. The group also recycles mobile phones through its Call2Recycle program.
Back to Top Participate in National EE Week 2006: April 16 - 22
Sign-up now for the second annual National Environmental Education Week! National EE Week will take place April 16-22, 2006 and will be the single largest environmental education event in the U.S. It is coordinated by NEETF in cooperation with hundreds of outstanding schools, environmental education organizations, education associations, nature centers, zoos, museums, aquariums, and state and federal agencies. National EE Week is a full week of educational preparedness for Earth Day and will involve thousands of educators and millions of students. To sign up as a partner (partnership is free) for National EE Week, go to www.eeweek.org.
Back to Top Consumers Willing to Pay More for Recycled Paper
A new study has found that 80 percent of consumers will pay more for books and magazines printed on recycled paper. Forty-two percent of respondents said they were willing to pay $1 more per book, and 4 percent said they are willing to pay 75 cents more per book. Another 14 percent are willing to pay 50 cents more per book and 19 percent are willing to pay 25 cents more per book, the survey said.
The survey, which drew 1,033 respondents, was co-sponsored by BookTech Magazine, a business magazine for publishing executives, and Co-Op America, a nonprofit organization that helps magazine publishers improve their environmental impacts.
Back to Top Tidal Marsh Brings Unique Feature to Mason Park
The Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) recently completed construction
on the Brays Bayou Freshwater Tidal Marsh Project. Construction included widening
an area of Brays Bayou – near Mason Park – and creating a wetland that will catch
stormwater runoff and improve water quality by removing pollutants from the water
entering the main channel. The new wetland is a gently-sloped freshwater marsh that
provides a habitat for native plants, wildlife and fish.
The 3.5-acre Freshwater Tidal Marsh Project is located at Mason Park, two miles north
of the IH-610 and IH-45 interchange in southeast Houston. HCFCD is primarily responsible for the overall engineering design and construction of the project. However, the project is
made possible through a collaboration between HCFCD and many city, state and national
organizations, both public and private.The project partners include Texas Cooperative
Extension/Texas Sea Grant, Texas Parks and Wildlife, City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department, Galveston Bay Estuary Program, Texas Genco, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Coastal Program, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Texas Master Naturalist, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Chavez and Austin High Schools. The completed project will be used as an outdoor classroom for teachers and students.
In the coming months, the community and project partners will continue planting marshland vegetation into the new wetland tidal marsh to further enhance the site and restore wildlife habitat.
For more information: Project Brays is a flood damage reduction project designed benefit thousands of residents and businesses along Brays Bayou. If you would like more information about Project Brays, including maps and construction updates, please visit our Web site, www.projectbrays.org, or call the Project Brays Information Hotline at 713-316-4820.
Back to Top EPA Advances Clean Beaches Plan
On January 5, another $10 million in beach grants were made available to states, bringing the total to nearly $52 million as part of an effort to help ensure the safety of the nation's favorite recreational spots. This grant money is available for beach monitoring and notification programs to 35 eligible states, territories and tribes to help to improve water quality at beaches and notify the public of beach warnings or closings if bacteria levels are too high. Information about the beach program and this announcement is at: www.epa.gov/waterscience/beaches/
Back to Top New Draft Watershed Handbook Released
A draft guide to watershed management to help various organizations develop and implement watershed plans is now available. The Draft Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters? is aimed toward communities, watershed groups, and local, state, tribal, and federal environmental agencies. This handbook contains in-depth guidance on quantifying existing pollutant loads, developing estimates of the load reductions required to meet water quality standards, developing effective management measures, and tracking progress once the plan is implemented. EPA will be accepting comments and suggestions on the document in the coming year to incorporate in the final version of the handbook. The handbook is available at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/watershed_handbook/
Back to Top 2006 AF&PA Recycling Awards
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) Recycling Awards encourage and recognize outstanding recycling programs that promote the recovery of high quality paper. The 2006 awards will recognize an individual, two businesses (small and large), two communities (small and large) and two schools. The School Recycling Awards recognize schools that have implemented successful recycling programs with a monetary prize and framed original artwork, given to a classroom recycling program and a school-wide recycling program. Deadline is February 17, 2006. For more information, go to http://www.paperrecycles.org/recycling/awards/.
Back to Top H-GAC MEETING NOTICES
H-GAC Natural Resources Advisory Committee
February 2, 2006, 1:30 PM
3555 Timmons Lane, Houston, TX 77027
Conference Room A, 2nd Floor Topic of Interest: Envision Houston Region – presentation and discussion. For additional information contact Carl Masterson at 713-993-4561 or cmasterson@h-gac.com
Back to Top
Buffalo/White Oak Bayous TMDL Stakeholders
February 7, 2006, 4:00 PM,
3555 Timmons Lane, Houston, TX 77027
Conference Room A, 2nd Floor. For additional information contact Carl Masterson at 713-993-4561 or cmasterson@h-gac.com. Topic of Interest: TMDL Summary – discussion and will be available on H-GAC web site at www.h-gac.com/bacteriatmdl the week of January 30, 2006.
Back to Top Parks and Natural Areas Meeting
February 15, 2006, 1:30 PM
Upper Kirby District Building, Second Floor Conference Room
3015 Richmond Avenue, Houston.
For further information, contact Kathy Ramsey at 713-499-6653 or kathleen.ramsey@h-gac.com
Back to Top Storm Debris: Incineration Options and TSDR Site Location
February 15, 2006
H-GAC Conference Room A
3555 Timmons, Houston, TX 77027
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
To RSVP by February 13th or for more information, please contact Kelly Doyle at kdoyle@h-gac.com or 713-993-4566.
Back to Top Environmental Awareness Roundtable: Earth Day
February 21, 2006
H-GAC Conference Room A
3555 Timmons, Houston, TX 77027
1:00pm - 4:00 pm This Roundtable is open to Public Information Planners or Educators and will focus on 2006 Earth Day events. Join us for coordination efforts with other environmental organizations in the region.
Back to Top OTHER MEETING NOTICES
Charting the Course to 2015 Galveston Bay Community Open House
The Galveston Bay Estuary Program cordially invites you to attend a Charting the Course to 2015 Galveston Bay Community Open House. This is your opportunity to learn about Galveston Bay's impact on our economic well-being, health, and quality of life, and how you can become involved in shaping its future! Be a part of Charting the Course to 2015 to take action toward sustaining Galveston Bay for generations to come.
Visit the exhibits, talk to Bay experts, and watch A Day on Galveston Bay, a great new video. Share your interests, ideas and concerns to help Chart the Course to a sustainable region that depends on the bay! We want to hear from you. Come to any Free Open House !They located throughout the Houston-Galveston region:
• Saturday, February 25 – UH Recreation Center, corner of University Drive and Calhoun Rd, Houston.
• Sunday, February 26 – Bayland Community Center, 6400 Bissonnet Street, Houston.
• Saturday, March 4 – Bear Creek Community Center, 3055 Bear Creek Drive, Houston.
• Sunday, March 5 – Eddie Gray Wetlands Center, 1724 Market Street, Baytown.
• Sunday, March 26 – Armand Bayou Nature Center, 8500 Bay Area Blvd., Pasadena.
• Saturday, April 1 – Alvin Senior Citizen Center, 309 West Sealy, Alvin.
• Sunday, April 2 – National Marine Fisheries Service, 4700 Avenue U, Galveston. Attend an open house anytime between 1 pm and 5 pm. In addition to great exhibits and information, there will be food, fun, and prizes for you to enjoy.
Back to Top T.E.L.E.A 7th Annual Training Conference
The Board of Directors is happy to announce the 7th Annual Training Conference to be held in San Antonio, Texas. February 13, 2006 - February 16, 2006
Holiday Inn Downtown/Market Square
318 W. Durango Blvd.
San Antonio, TX. 78204
1-800-445-8475 To secure this rate your room must be booked by January 23, 2006. The cost of the conference is $150.00 (dues included). Conference registration should be mailed to T.E.L.E.A, P.O. Box 855, Conroe, Texas 77305-0855. Any questions concerning the conference should be addressed to Sgt. Cynthia Sorrell, Cell # 281-850-9537 or email Cynthia.Sorrell@cityofhouston.net.
Back to Top To unsubscribe, add another subscriber or offer any comments on the e-newsletter, please e-mail cep_news@h-gac.com.
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